Albert l



(No Model.)

A. L. REINMANN & O. G. OTT.

APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION-0P H1911 VAGUUMS.

Patented Apr. 13, 1886..

ma i n3)? aliarnay oil a gmpher. Washmglull. n. c.

. NITE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBERT L. REINMANN, OF PITTSBURG, IA., AND CHARLES G. OTT, OF NEV- ARK, N. J., ASSIGNORS, BY DIRECT AND MESN E ASSIGNMENTS, TO GEORGE \VESTINGHOUSE, OF PITTSBURG, PA.

APPARATUS'FOR THE PRODUCTION OF HIGH VACUUMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,930, dated April 13, 1886.

A ppllcaiion filed August 13, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, ALBERT L. REINMANN, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny' and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, and CHARLES G. OTT,re-

siding at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Apparo ratus for the Production of High Vacuums, of

which improvements the following is a specification.

In the accompanying drawings, which make part of this specification, Figure 1 is a view in elevation ofthe arrangementof our improved plant or apparatus for producing high vacuums. Fig. 2 areviews in elevation and sec tion ofa modified form of the valve employed for controlling the admission and exit of air to and from the mercury-reservoir. Fig. 3is a sectional detail view of the vacuum-chamber check-valves.

The invention herein relates to certain im' provements in that class of pumps employed for obtaining high vacuums, generally known as Geissler ormercury pumps; and the object of the invention is to so construct and arrange said pumps that a series of two or more pumps may be simultaneously operated 0 by the movement of a single cock or valve mechanism, and so that one or more pumps may be cut out of the series without stopping or interfering in any manner with the operation of the other pump or pumps in the series; and to these ends the invention consists in the construction and combination of parts, all as more hilly hereinafter described and claimed.

The pumps A 13. tc, of the series are ex- 0 actly similar in construction. and each consists of a stationary incrcury-reservoir, 1, having one arm or branch of abent tube connected to its lower end, the opposite and longer arm of said tube being connected to the lower end of a vacuum chamber 3, The bent tube 2 is provided with a branch pipe, 4, at a point below the vacuum-chamber, but a short dis- Serial No. 174,333. (No model.)

tance above the normal level of the mercury in the reservoir and bent tube, such level being indicated by the line a; m. This branch pipe 4 extends a short distance laterally, and then upward in a vertical direction to apoint above the vacuum-chamber, where it is con nected by a hermetic joint to a pipe, 5, provided with branches or arms 6, provided at their free ends with suitable sockets for the reception of pipes 7, to which the bulbs ato be exhausted are connected. The pipe 5 is provided with a turn-plug, 8, at some point below the branches 6, for the purpose of cutting connection between the vacuum-chamber 3 and the bulbs awhen desired to remove the bulbs and during the beginning of the exhaustion of new bulbs, and in the branch pipe is formed a chamber, 9, for the reception of some suitable drying substance-e. 9., chloride of calcium. To the upper end of the vacuum-chamber 3 is connected a pipe, 10, I the upper end of said pipe being connected to a pipe, 11, leading to a continuously-operatin 7Q mechanical exhaust pump. (Not shown.) In the lower end of the pipe 10 are formed the valve-chambers 12, in which are located au-- tomatically-operating valves 13, adapted to permit of the escape of air from the vacuumchamber, but to prevent the entrance of any air thereto. The pipe 10 is provided at some point above the valve-chambers 12 with a branch pipe, 14, whereby connection is formed between the pipe 10 and the upper end of the pipe 5, and in the pipe 14 is located the plug 15, adapted to cut off connection between said pipes 5 and 10 when new bulbs are to be attached to the branches 6. In the pipe 10, between the branch 14 and its connection with the exhaust-pipe, is located the turn-plug 16. whereby connection between said pipes 10 and 11 may be cut off when it is desired to isolate or cut out any pump of the series.

To the neck of the reservoir 1 is connected 0 a Utube, 17, containing some auhydrousmaterial, through which air may be admitted to the reservoir when it is desired to operate one of the pumps independently of the other pumpsof the series, and to the neck of the reservoir is connected one end of the tube .18, the opposite end of said tube being connected to the pipe 19, leading to a continuously-operating exhaustpump, said pipe 19 being provided with a turn-plug, 20, whereby connection between the exhaust-pipe 19 and the reservoir may be cut off when it is desired to isolate the pump.

To permit of the independent operation of any of the pumps, a three-way cook, 21, is located at the point ofjunction of the pipe 18 and the reservoir, so that by the manipulation of the cock 21 connection may be made between the reservoir and the exhaust-pump or with the open air.

The exhaust-pipe 11 has an uninterrupted connection with a continuously-operating exhaust-pump, but at some convenient point along the pipe 19 is located a valve mechanism adapted to open and close communication with a continuously acting exhaust pump through pipe 22 or with the open air through pipe 23. This valve may consist of a threeway cock, such as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and adapted to be manipulated by hand, or of a valve mechanism, such as shown in Fig. 1. This valve mechanism consists of a cylindrical portion, 24, and of the lateral branches 26, the latter being connected with the pipes 19 and 22, respectively, and the upper end of the cylindrical portion being connected with the pipe 23, opening into the air at normal pressure. Through the lower end of the cylindrical portion 24 extends the piston 27, of a length sufficient, when at the upper limit of stroke, to project beyond the lateral branches 26, and being provided with a transverse passage, 28, which will be in line with the openings in the lateral branches when the piston is raised as above stated. The upper end of the piston is beveled off on the side toward the pipe19, so that when the piston is lowered communication will be opened between the pipes 23 and 19, but the opening in the branch 26, leading'to the pipe 22, will be closed, thus closing communication between the pipes 22 and 19. The lower end of the piston-rod 29 is provided with a plate, 30, which serves as an armature for the electro-magnet 31. The wires from the magnet are connected to the binding-posts 32 or other suitable metallic points, and include in their circuit-the battery 33. Above the bindingposts 32 is located the electro-magnet 34. The wires therefrom, includingin their circuit the battery 35, are connected to platinum electrodes projecting into the tube 2 just belowthe branch pipe 4 and a little above the normal level of the mercury in said tube. The armature 36 of this magnet is of such a size and is pivoted in such relation to the binding posts 32, that when the circuit of the magnet is broken the armature will drop on and electrically connect the binding-posts, thereby closing the circuit of the magnet 31, which will then draw down the armature 30 and pistom. 37, thereby opening communication between 23 and 19; To close thiscommunication with the open air, and at the same time to connect the mercury-reservoir with the mechanical exhaust-pump, the piston 27 is raised by the lever 37, having one of itsends connected to the piston-rod 29 and its 0pp0-- site end connected to the armature 38 of the electro-magnet 39. The wires from this magnet are connected to platinum electrodes inserted through the walls of the bulb or valvechamber 12, and include in their circuit the battery 40.

Each of the pumps A B, &c.,are, as above stated, similarly constructed and connected with the pipes 11 and 19, leading to the mechanical exhaust device; but only one pump of the series is necessarily provided with the with the valve-operating mechanism.

The operation of our improved apparatus is as follows: The bulbs a, having been connect, ed to the branch pipes 8, the cooks 16 and 20 are turned so as to permit free com munication between the exhaust-pipes and the mercurial pumps A and B. The piston 27 is raised so as to bring the transverse passage therethrough in line with the openings in the'branches 26, and in order that'thepiston may remain in this position until the mercurial pumps have been exhausted by the mechanical pumps, the

mercury will stand at the same height in the reservoirs and the pipes 2, the surface of the mercury being a little below the point at 5 platinum electrodes and their connections which the electrodes of the magnet 34 project through the pipe 2 at or about the line a; w.

At the beginning of the operation i. e.,while the mechanical pumps are removing the air IIO from the pumps A B, &c.-the cook 15 is opened and the cock 8 is kept closed, so that the action of the mechanical exhaust-pumps will remove all moisture and dust from the bulbs, thereby preventing any defilementof the mercury. After the dust and moisture have been removed from the bulbs a, as above" close communication between the mechanical exhaust-pump and the pipe 19, leading to the reservoirs, and at' the same time will admit As soon as the mechanical exhaustatmospheric pressure through the pipe 19 to all the mercury-reservoirs. The pressure of the air thus admitted will force the mercury from the reservoirs 1 into the vacuum-chambers 3 and up past the valves 13, filling the l valve-chambers 12 and floatingthe valves from theirseats. Asthe mercury rises in the tube of the pump A, it closes the circuitof the magnet 34, thereby causing the armature to be lifted from the binding-posts 32, thus breaking the circuitof the magnet 31. As the mercury passes on up through the chambers 3 and into the valve-chambers 12, forcing the air from said chambers, the circuit of the magnets 39 is closed, thereby causing the magnets 39 to draw down the armature 38, and through the medium of the lever 37 to raise the piston 27, thereby cutting off atmospheric pressure and opening communication between the exhaust'pump and the reservoirs 1 of the several pumps. As soon as atmospheric pressure is removed from the reservoirs 1, the mercury will flew back therein under the force of gravity. The return of the mercury to the reservoir and that portion of the tube 2 below the location of the electrodes in that tube opens the circuits of the magnets 31 and 34 in the order stated. The breaking of the circuit of the magnet 34 permits the armature 36 to drop onto the binding-posts 32, thus closing the circuit of the magnets 81, which will then draw down the piston 27, thereby admitting atmospheric pressure to thesever'al reservoirs. Then the above-described operation is repeated. It will be seen from the above, as soon as the mercurial pumps have been put in operation, that the to-and-fro circulation of the mercury will continue as long as desired without further attention from the operator.

It will be observed that as the mercurial reservoirs 1 and the vacuum-chambers 3 of each of the pumps A B, &c., are independently connected to the pipes 19 and 11, respectively, that the movement of the mercury to and from the vacuum-chambers of the several pumps will be synchronous and simultaneous in each. Such movement may be regulated by the valve mechanism located in the pipe 19, leading to the mercury-rcservoirs,such valve mechanism being controlled, when the apparatus is operating automatically, by the movement of the mercury in that pump of the series to which the wires composing the circuits of the magnets 31 and are connected.

The wires composing the circuits of the magnets 31 and 34 may be connected to any one of the pumps of the series, as desired.

In place of operating the pumps automatically, as above describedi. e., through the medium of the electro-magnets and their cirouits a three-way cock, such as shown in Fig. 2, may be employed for regulating the connection of the pipe 19 and the pipes 22 and 23 leading to the mechanical pump and the open air.

As soon as the bulbs a of any of the pumps A B, &c., have been properly exhausted and seated, the cock 8 of that pump is closed, the

then the bulbs of that can be removed and others substituted therefor without stopping the working of that pump or in any way interfering with the operation of the other pumps of the series.

When new bulbs are connected to any of the pumps, the cock 15 should be first opened in order to remove the dust and moisture therefrom directly through the pipes 14 and 1.1, alter which the cook 15 should be closed and the cock 8 opened, as previously stated.

In case of the breakage of any of the pumps that pump of the series can be isolated or cut outby elosing the cooks 16 and 20, connecting such pump with the pipes 11 and 19, and, if desired, the pumps maybe independently operated by means of the three way cock 21, the valve mechanism in the pipe 19 being so adjusted as to connect such pipe with the mechanical exhaust-pump.

When operating all of the pumps simultaneously, the several cocks 20, 16, and 21 should be so turned as to permit free communication between the mercury-reservoirs and the pipe 19 and between the vacuum-chambers and the pipe 11.

It is desirable that two or more of the pumps should be supplied with electrodes for con nection with the wires composing the circuits of the magnets, so that in case of the breakage of thepu mp having such connection that pump maybe isolated and the wires connected to the electrodes of the other pumps.

WVe claim herein as our invention 1. In an apparatus for the production of high vacuums, a series of mercury-reservoirs, in combination with a like series of vacuumchambers, each reservoir of the series being connected to one of the vacuum-chambers, as described, the vacuum chambers being provided with suitable outlets for the escape of air therefrom, the mercury-reservoirs having suitable connections with a mechanical exhaust-pump and with the open air, a single valve mechanism arranged for admitting the air to each reservoir simultaneously, and also connecting the same with the exhaust-pump,

- substantially as set forth.

2. In an apparatus for the production of high vacuums, a series of vacuum-chambers, each having an uninterrupted connection with a continuous]y-operating mechanical exhaustpump, in combination with a like series of mercu ry-reservoi rs, each reservoir being eonnccted to one of the vacuum-chambers and provided with a common connection with a mechanical exhaust pump or device and with the open air, and a valve mechanism controlling such connection, whereby the atmospheric pressure may be simultaneously varied in each of the mercurial reservoirs, substantially as set forth.

3. In an apparatus for the production of high vacuums, a series of vacnuinchambers cook 15 having been previously closed, and each connected to apipe leading toacontinuously-operating mechanical exhaust-pump, in combination with a series of mercury-reservoirs, each reservoir being connected to one of the vacuum-chambers and provided with a common connection with a mechanical exhaust-pump, and withthe open air a valve mechanism controlling such connection, and suitable mechanism interposed between the valve mechanism and vacuum chambers and operated by the circulation of the mercury to and from the vacuum-chambers, substantially as set forth;

In testimony whereof we'have hereunto set 7 our hands.

ALBERT L. REINMANN. CHARLES OTT.

Witnesses as to Reinmann: DARWIN S. WOLOOTT, G. W. WILLIAMS. Witnesses as to Ott:

GUs. WIDMAN, ANDREW Coons.

It is hereby certified that the name of the assignee in Letters Patent No. 339,930, granted April 13, 1886, upon the application of Albert L. Reinmann, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, and Charles G. Ott, of, Newark, New Jersey, for an improvement in Apparatus for the Production of High Vacuums, was erroneously written and printed George Westinghouse, that said name should have been writ-ten and printed George Westinghouse, jr. and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Ofiice.

Signed, countersigned, and sealed this 20th day of April, A. D. 1886.

[SEAL] H. L. MULDROW,

Acting Secretary of the Interior. Counter-signed M. V. MONTGOMERY,

Commissioner of Patents. 

